Devrce for loading pig-iron



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

E. THOMAS.

DEVICE FOR LOADING PIG IRON.

WITNESSES (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. E. THOMAS.

DEVICE POR LOADING PIG IRON. No. 344,222. Patented June 22, 1886.

WITNESSES l Attorney AV.tional view of an apparatus embodying myin-l ilNrrn' STATES PA'rnNfr ,e amen.

EDWIN rrnoMAs, or noKE'NDAUQUA,` PENNSYLVANIA.

nEvrcE Foa LOADING mennen.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 3de-,222, dated June 22, 1886.

Application filed February 1l, 1886. Serial No. 191.594. 1 (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, EDWIN THOMAS, a citizen ofthe United States of America, residing at Hoken'dauqua, in the county of Lehigh and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Device for Loading Pig-Iron; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description ofthe invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters or ig'ures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this speciiication. My'inyention has referenceY to devices for raising and lowering metal bars', rails, ingots, and like articles; and the said invention consists in the improvements hereinafter described and set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specieation, Figurel is a vertical secvention. Fig. liFig. ly, and Fig. lz are de.- tail views, respectively, of the cross-head, the cross-bar, and one of the clamp-sleeves. Fig. 2 designates two view, in vertical section and sectional plan, of a valve device used in con- -nection with the improved apparatus `illustrated in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 designates detail views illustrating the construction of the gr'apples used in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is another vertical section illustrating a modification. Fig. 5 is aside elevation of the lower portion of the grapples shown in Fig. 4.,. Figs. 6, 7, and 8 are views in elevation representing modified constructions of grapples, and Fig. 9 is a plan View ofthe form of grapple illustra-ted in Fig .8.l

By reference to Fig. 1 it will be noted that A designates a vertical steam cylinder, snpported or carried by any suitable means, and

provided atits lower end with the head a,hav`- ing a central stuffing-box, b.

C C refer to steam-pipes, which communicate, respectively, with the cylinder A near its upper and lower ends.

B refers to a yhollow annular piston, which plays within the cylinder A, and is provided on its under side with a plate, d, with which connects the upper end of a hollow piston-rod, e, Ithe latter extending through the stuingbox b, and having depending from its lower end a cross-head, C. Aswill be noted, the annular piston B presents within itself an annular chamber, b,lwithin which plays the diskpiston D, with which is connected the upper end of a hollow piston-rod, e', of' smaller di- -ameter than the-rodc and extending down .vertical line, and then curving oiispirally and,4

horizontally in a downward direction andterminating adjacent tothe lowerhead, a, of the cylinder. r f refers to aprojection carried by the plate d of the piston B, and extending into the groove f, above referred to.

Each outer en'd of the crosshead is perfou rated horizontally for the pivotal attachment of a depending socket, g, to each of which is connected depending rods hh, extending down parallel with each other, as shown in Fig. 1,

and each carrying a sleeve, z', secured adjustable thereon by4 means of thumb-clamps j. The inner side of cach sleeve is provided with horizontally-perforatedears k., to which is piv otally attached one end of 'a connecting-link, Z, the other end of which is likewise pi'votally connected to corresponding ears, m, on the cross-bar E. The lower endof this rod h en ters the socket n of a horizontal plate, n', the

saidplates n being located rclativelyin par .allel positions, and each being provided with aseries of horizontal extending teeth, n"w hich extend in the-direction of each other.

o refers to a steam-portlocated in the crosshead, andp acorresponding steaniport located lin the cross-bar. ,l

The parts being in the position illustrated by the dotted l'ines, Fig. 1, steam is admitted by the port o to the interior of the piston-rod aandascending therein acts vupon the diskpiston D and raises it t'o the position shown inffull lines, Fig. 1, which movement' causesthe ascent of the cross-bar E, and the` movef ment toward each other of the grapples of the IOO.

r j 'I 344,222

rods h h, causing -themto graspthe material between them. The steam is than @used to travel through the pipeC into the cylinder A, beneath the plated on lthe piston B, *causing Y the piston to -ascend in the said cylinder to elevate both piston-rods together'with their grapples loaded. As the piston B ascends, the f pin f traveling 'in the grhove,will gradually change from one vertical point in the cylinder to another, and thereby turn thelpiston about onequarter of a complete revolution, and resulting in turning the `frame formed upon vlthe rods h h and their grapplestoa. position at right angles with that occupied by them in Fig. 1. Y f l When the apparatus has been s0 operated that the weighthas been elevated to a sufficient height and the whole structnre moved t0 a point labove which the weight is to be placed, :o the steam-supply through the pipe G having been previously discontinued, steam is then admitted to the cylinder A, above the pistons D and B, through the pipe C, the action `of the steam causing the piston D to descend in the Y 25.chamber b' to the position it first occupied,

,and consequently resulting in operating the cross-bar E, so as to'spread the rods k It and' p their grapples and drop the weight. The apparatus canbe moved to its tiret position, and,

3o upon the continued action of the steam above the pistons D and B, can be forced down in the cylinder,so as to tur'n the grapple-frame to its first position, after which the steam can be admitted again through the ports p'and pipe C',

and renew the operation first described. Of course, upon the descent of the disk-piston D in thechamber b of the piston B, it will be i necessary tov exhaust the steam from the said chamber b', and for this purpose I have inter- 1 4o posedan exhaust-passage, o, in the cross-head,

. Whichcoinmunicates through the rod e tothe chamber-b to exhaust the steam.

In operating the apparatus I have found it desirable to employ two valves, each being of Y the constructie,n il nsti-ated by the two views,

Fig.- 2. In said figures F indicates au anuular steam-chamber, with which com xnunicates,

atene side, the steam-snpplyq. The cap o' of the said steam-chamber is extended up cen- 5ottally so' as to forni a bearing for aver-tical spindle, s, to` the upper end of which is counected a handle, s', the lower end of said spindleexitending down into the cylinder to carry and operate a cani-block, Gf.` Three openings or ports are formed through the bottom of the chamber f. In the valve two of the openings,

c' c', establish communication through the pipes C C', while the third opening, ci, forins an exhaust for said pipes. By chang-ing the I o posiiion of the cani-block steam may he caused to pass through the ports c c', and then by again moving said cam-blcck the opening q may be covered and the ports c', c', vand cs uncovered in order that steam may be exhausted through the ports-c c'into and through the A similar valve device is used for 'larly to grasp railway-rails. In Fig. 6 the "ingsaid cross-bar and rods h h, a rod connectfurnishing and exhausting steam to and from the ports 'o p. l A

In Fig. it I have represented the modified form of the apparatus, in which figure the distinct operation of the pistons D and B, instead of being eii'ected in one cylinder, are effected in diereut cylinders.- For instance,

the cross-head C carries on its upper side a cylinder, 11 having steam-pipest t', communicating at its upper and lower portion, and containing a pistou, H', to which is connected a piston-rod, e', which in this instance is solid.

The form of grapples employed in connection with the rods can be varied to suit the character of Work. In Fig. 1 plain billets or bars are designed to be elevated, while in Figs. 4 and 5 the rods h h are bifurcated at their lower portions, and have removably connected thereto grapples n, designed more particurods I; h are' represented as having pivotally connected thereto, below the sleeves z' z', pivotal sections h h', which are crossed and piv.- otally connected at h", in order to secure the 9C short leverage adjacent to the grappling por tions'. Fig. 7 represents a side view of Fig.

6. In Figs. 8 and 9 I have represented the grapples as being each provided with a series of tnes, n, which jointly form a cradle.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the apparatus described is both eiective and positive in its operation, at all times under thecomplete control of the operator, and that its 'several parts are designed with a view of loo securing economy and durability of structure. I claiml. The combination, in va loading and unloading device, of a rappling-frame having rods h h, a cross-bar, inks pivotally connect-` ed to said cross-bar, a piston connected to said rod,aud motive appliances for operating said rod to 'move vthe rods h h toward each other and elevate the grappling-frame, substantially as set forth. 2. The combination, in a loading and unloading device, of a grappling frame or' jaws, a pistou connected to said jaws for operating the saine, an independent piston for raising and lowering said frame, and motive appliances for operating said pistons, substantially as set forth.

.3. The combination, in a loadin and unv lcadingdevice, of a cylinder provi ed with a groove, f, a piston, B, having a projection traveling in said groove, a -grappling-frame connected to said piston B,and a piston, D, connected to the grappling-jaws, substantially as andfor the purpose specified.

4. The combination, in a loadin IIS x25 and unloading device, of the grappling rame and jawahollow pistons B and D, connected to thel saine,l and a valve device consisting of a chamher, F, having ports q, c', and c' and p, and a cam-block, G, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination, in a loading and uuloading device, of -the grappling-frame having rods h h, a. cross-bar, E, sleeves i i, embracing and adapted to slide vertically upon said rods h h, screws j for clamping said sleeves on 5 said rods, and links pivotally connecting said cross-bar and sleeves,

forth.

6. The combination, loading device, ot: the

substantially as set in a loading andungrappling-frame hav- 

